Maybe one of your next projects could be an English as a second language course free to parents and sponsored by the PTO. Local college students and church organizations will often volunteer to teach these classes as a public service. You would be providing a service to your parents and hopefully creating some new relationships. The PTO could provide refreshments, etc. Good luck.

Okay, the problem is a bit clearer. Do you have access to a local high school with a National Honor Society? These type of groups have to perform a number of community service hours and if they had a bi-lingual member willing to do it then that could be your solution. Or how about a local church? An area priest could possibly suggest a parish member willing to volunteer.

As for the activities, is their a business in your community who would be willing to sponsor your school or even just an activity? Can you talk to the principal about grants? This is major work and I know it gets discouraging when you feel all alone, but maybe there is something out there! Good luck! :cool:

I understand that much of what I said sounded like assumptions. I can only tell you that it has been my experience both teaching in this particular school and now teaching and doing PTO. You say that Hispanic families are family oriented. I would agree with you here. And you say they value education. I bet they do in Venezuela as the (few)families from Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and other South American countries we have seem to be. The bulk of our population is Puerto Rican and do not seem as involved as any other group as a whole. But of course, there are exceptions to every situation!
The problem begins with the fact that most PR parents in our area are not literate. They are not fluent in Spanish nor in English. They may speak Spanish but cannot read it.
You say to find several bilingual people to translate. But that right there is a problem. I would love to do that but I have not found anyone to do this! We are having a welcome to 6th grade picnic on Friday....paid for by the new principal. I have asked parents who have RSVP'd if they would be willing to translate and the answer was no...."my English isn't good enough" "my Spanish isn't good enough". Every single notice goes home in English and Spanish (translated by me!! I can read, write and understand Spanish...just can't speak it quickly...I need my dictionary right with me!)

And as for providing free or low cost activities...we do. As I said, the principal is paying for this picnic out of school funds. We have $291 in our PTO account. We will have a dance for Halloween and that will bring us up to about $600 probably. Fundraisers in the past have COST the school money because kids took product and didn't return money so we are not allowed to do them.

I appreciate your words....and it's really hard to convey the entirety of the situation in a post like this. I don't mean to sound as negative as I do....especially around the language/cultural differences. But those differences are there and I have tried for 4 years in this district to get parents involved (only 10 months as PTO president....otherwise as a teacher) and I can't do it.....and now that my co-president has pulled her kid from the school.....I am just feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed. I don't know how to do this. We were the only 2 parents involved regularly last year with 3 others involved rarely. We have a student body of 900!!!! I just don't know how to do it and work and take care of my family. It feels like a Herculean task.....

Like someone posted above, your attempts have been wonderful and focused on the kids. That's what our organizations really should be about. But some of what you posted are assumptions and may not be true. I have found that Hispanics are truly family oriented and that education is very important to them. But not knowing the language, and I live it every day in Venezuela, is extremely intimidating. Find several people who are bilingual and can break that barrier for you. Make your needs known in both languages and let the Hispanic parents know that they are important to your school too. They may not be able to attend meetings, but they could make cookies. If money is a problem, provide low cost activities that their entire family can attend. Belonging is feeling that you are a part of a group, and if every other word is goobly-gock than your not going to feel very welcome! My PTO has been pretty successful with this and it is still a daily struggle....but well worth it! :cool:

You're welcome, and thanks for the kind words. After serving for two years as President of our PTO, I came to the realization that it was more important to get people involved in the SCHOOL than in coming to the PTO meetings. We, like so many other PTOs start our year with big numbers at meetings and then it dwindles off to the board and a handful of regulars by year end. It's disappointing, but people are so busy and some just don't care to attend another meeting after a day of work. In my opinion, it's much more important and of more value to the students and teachers to have people concentrating their time and effort on being in the school helping in the classroom and at activities. Typically, it only takes a few people to be able to make a decision about what type of event to have or how to fundraise, but it takes an army to pull it off. I say less focus on meeting attendance and more on getting parents and families involved in the daily classroom activities and special events that truly make a difference in the school.

Wonderful answer Luvmykids! I will keep that in mind as well. My kids love to see me around there school now that this PTO is underway. I think of them and what would make the school a better place and then I think of the teachers and what would make it a better place for them. My whole emphasis this year is to take some burdens off the shoulders of the teachers. We are blessed that we have 2 great fundraisers already in place. Just wanted to let you know that your message was "a good for..." You made my day!